Strawberry plant named ‘Limvalnera’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Strawberry plant named ‘LIMVALNERA’, characterized by its upright and semi-open plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; uniform fruit ripening; large long conical fruits that are glossy and bright red in color with seeds positioned at the fruit surface; pleasant fruit aroma and taste; good fruit postharvest longevity; and good transportation tolerance.

Botanical designation: Fragaria x ananassa.

Cultivar denomination: ‘LIMVALNERA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofStrawberry plant, botanically known as Fragaria x ananassa, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘LIMVALNERA’ and typically producedfor fresh market consumption.

The new Strawberry plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Horst, The Netherlands and Lepe, Spain. Theobjective of the breeding program was to develop new Strawberry plantswith good fruit quality, ease of harvesting, good postharvest longevityand transportation tolerance.

The new Strawberry plant originated from a cross-pollination in March,2011 in Horst, The Netherlands of Fragaria x ananassa. ‘Primoris’, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with Fragaria x ananassa‘Ventana’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,469, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Strawberry plant was discovered and selected bythe Inventor as a single plant from within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled environment in Lepe, Spain in April,2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Strawberry plant by vegetative cuttings(runners) in a controlled environment at Lepe, Spain since May, 2012 hasshown that the unique features of this new Strawberry plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Strawberry have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘LIMVALNERA’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘LIMVALNERA’ as a new and distinct Strawberryplant:

-   -   1. Upright and semi-open plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Uniform fruit ripening.    -   4. Large long conical fruits that are glossy and bright red in        color with seeds positioned at the fruit surface.    -   5. Pleasant fruit aroma and taste.    -   6. Good fruit postharvest longevity.    -   7. Good transportation tolerance.

Plants of the new Strawberry differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent, ‘Primoris’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Strawberry produce a higher percentage of        quality fruits than plants of ‘Primoris’.    -   2. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry are larger and longer        (less rounded) than fruits of plants of ‘Primoris’.    -   3. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry are darker red in        color than fruits of plants of ‘Primoris’.

Plants of the new Strawberry differ primarily from plants of the maleparent, ‘Ventana’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Strawberry have a semi-open plant habit        whereas plants of ‘Ventana’ have an open plant habit.    -   2. Plants of the new Strawberry produce a higher percentage of        quality fruits than plants of ‘Ventana’.    -   3. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry are longer than and        not as flat as fruits of plants of ‘Ventana’.

Plants of the new Strawberry can be compared to plants of Fragaria xananassa ‘Calinda’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,904. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Strawberry differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Calinda’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Strawberry have a 50% higher fruit yield        per plant than plants of ‘Calinda’.    -   2. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry are longer than fruits        of plants of ‘Calinda’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Strawberry plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Strawberry plant.

The photograph at the top of the first sheet is a side perspective viewof a typical fruiting plant of ‘LIMVALNERA’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the first sheet is a close-up view oftypical leaves of ‘LIMVALNERA’.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view oftypical flowers of ‘LIMVALNERA’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view oftypical developing and developed fruits of ‘LIMVALNERA’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown in 19-cm containers during the summer and earlyautumn in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Horst, The Netherlandsand under cultural practices typical of commercial Strawberryproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 15° C. to 35° C., night temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 20° C.and light levels ranged from 40 to 110 klux. Plants were one year oldwhen the photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Fragaria x ananassa ‘LIMVALNERA’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Fragaria x ananassa ‘Primoris’, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Fragaria x ananassa ‘Ventana’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,469.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings (runners).        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three days at soil            temperatures about 14° C. to 16° C. and ambient temperatures            about 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About two            weeks at soil temperatures about 14° C. to 16° C. and            ambient temperatures about 19° C. to 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial; upright and semi-open            plant habit; overall shape, flattened globular; leaves            basal; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit;            moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 20.2 cm.        -   Plant diameter (excluding stolons).—About 34.5 cm.-   Stolons:    -   -   Length.—About 32.3 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Texture.—Sparsely to moderately pubescent.        -   Color.—Close to 144A to 144B tinged with close to N199D.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement and appearance.—Basal rosette; compound with            typically three leaflets per leaf; leaves are not            variegated.        -   Leaf length.—About 12.9 cm.        -   Leaf width.—About 15.8 cm.        -   Leaf shape.—Tri-foliate, reniform in outline.        -   Leaflet length.—About 8.7 cm.        -   Leaflet width.—About 8.4 cm.        -   Leaflet shape.—Broadly ovate to nearly orbicular.        -   Leaflet apex.—Short abruptly acute.        -   Leaflet base.—Obtuse to short attenuate.        -   Leaflet margin.—Coarsely serrate to crenate.        -   Leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Sparsely            pubescent; slightly rugose; slightly glossy.        -   Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Moderately            pubescent along venation; slightly rugose; matte.        -   Leaflet venation.—Pinnate.        -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to            143A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to between            143B and 144A. Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface:            Slightly darker than between NN137A and 147A; venation,            close to 144A. Fully expanded leaflets, lower surface: Close            to between N138C and 191A; venation, close to 144D.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 10.8 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Densely            pubescent; moderately glossy. Strength: Strong, flexible.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B.        -   Stipules.—Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Shape:            Narrowly deltoid. Apex: Narrowly acute. Base: Broadly            cuneate. Margins: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Moderately pubescent.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 146D; tinged            towards the apex and margins with close to 180C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower form and flowering habit.—Rotate flowers arranged in            lateral trusses; flowers are positioned upright to outwardly            and are held slightly below the foliar plane; about six            flowers develop per truss.        -   Truss height.—About 9.2 cm.        -   Truss diameter.—About 6.9 cm.        -   Fragrance.—Faint, sweet and pleasant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants            flower from the spring into the summer in The Netherlands;            individual flowers last about one week on the plant.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.9 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.1 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm.            Shape: Roughly ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            sepals, sparsely pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 145D;            sepals, close to 138B.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a single whorl.            Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm. Shape: Nearly            orbicular. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire;            slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; matte. Texture and            luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety;            slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to NN155C. Fully opened, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to NN155D; venation, close to NN155D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity, arrangement and calyx description: About            ten sepals arranged in two whorls of five each; calyx,            star-shaped; calyx adherence is weak; sepals are orientated            away from the fruit. Calyx length: About 5 mm. Calyx            diameter: About 2.8 cm. Length: About 1 cm to 1.1 cm. Width:            About 5 mm to 7 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate to ovate. Apex:            Acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire; moderately            pubescent. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; moderately glossy. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Sparsely pubescent; matte. Color: When opening,            upper surface: Close to 143A. When opening, lower surface:            Close to 143B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 137A.            Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 138A to 138B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to            4 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 40° from leaf axil.            Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; moderately glossy.            Color, upper surface: Close to 144B tinged with close to            146C. Color, lower surface: Close to 144B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 30° from the            peduncle axis. Texture and luster: Sparsely to moderately            pubescent; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 144A to 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 25.            Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 150D.            Anther size: About 0.8 mm by 0.5 mm. Anther shape: Broadly            oblong Anther color: Close to 153C. Pollen amount: Scarce.            Pollen color: Close to 153B. Pistils: Quantity per flower:            About 160. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Style length: About            0.8 mm. Style color: Close to 153C. Stigma diameter: About            0.2 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to            153B. Ovary color: Close to 144B. Fruits and achenes:            Fruiting truss length (including peduncle): About 17.5 cm.            Fruiting truss diameter: About 12.5 cm. Fruiting truss            color: Close to 143B. Quantity of fruits per truss:            About 16. Natural fruiting season: Plants produce fruit from            the mid-summer into the autumn in The Netherlands.            Postharvest longevity: About nine days; good transportation            tolerance. Length: About 3.3 cm. Diameter: About 2.9 cm.            Cavity length: About 1.4 cm. Cavity width: About 5 mm.            Shape: Long conical. Fruit weight per fruit, first quality:            About 29.5 g. Fruit weight per plant, first quality: About            900 to 1,000 g. Firmness: Firm. Fragrance, taste: Pleasant;            strongly sweet; good balance between sweetness and acidity.            Brix: About 9.2° Bx. Luster: Glossy. Surface unevenness:            Slightly. Color, outer surface: Close to 42A to 42B. Color,            flesh: Close to 40B. Color, core: Close to 40D. Achene            density and position: Medium density; about 150 achenes per            fruit; achenes positioned level with the fruit surface.            Achene length: About 1 mm. Achene diameter: About 0.75 mm.            Achene texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Achene            color: Close to 151A.-   Pathogen and pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Strawberry    have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common    to Strawberry plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Strawberry have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from −32° C. to 40° C. and    are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Strawberry plant named ‘LIMVALNERA’as illustrated and described.